Most Hostages Freed in Nairobi Mall Siege as Rescue Continues


Most Hostages Freed in Nairobi Mall Siege as Rescue Continues

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A rescue operation continues for local and foreign hostages still held inside Nairobi’s Westgate mall. Most have been freed, Kenya's military said.

At least 68 people have been killed and 200 injured in the attack launched by militants, RT reported.

Kenyan military spokesperson Colonel Cyrus Oguna confirmed that “most of the hostages have been released, and the Kenya Defence Forces has taken control of most parts of the building."

Oguna also stated that “around 10” hostages are still being held by Somalia's al-Shabab militants inside the mall. Most of those already rescued were adults, AP cited the spokesperson as saying.

Earlier Sunday, Kenyan troops launched an assault on cornered Somali militants in the Westgate shopping mall. Four military personnel were injured during the latest rescue operation, the Kenya Defence Forces stated.

The Kenyan president’s office announced that one of the gunmen arrested by police inside the mall died from gunshot wounds.

“Operations are continuing… We will free all those inside and stop this, of course we cannot give details of the operations except to say that everything that can be done is being done,” a security officer said, as quoted by AFP.

Police said they fear the death toll from the siege could become higher, after hearing reports of multiple corpses inside the building.

Ten to 15 gunmen are reportedly still inside the shopping center.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab militant group said the Nairobi attack was a response to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.

 

 

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